Staten Island Advance / Bill LyonsMayor Michael Bloomberg and Staten Island Borough President James P. Molinaro discuss the possibility of reviving the North Shore Railroad as they walk the old tracks behind R.H. Tugs in Livingston, Aug. 15.

Mayor meets with Molinaro to discuss bringing service back to defunct line

Mayor Michael Bloomberg's latest Staten Island campaign stop brought him last night to R.H. Tugs restaurant in Livingston, where, along with James Molinaro, he made rounds shaking hands and joking with diners, before walking out back to take a look at the old rail tracks that run between the shoreline and Tugs' patio.

The billionaire and the borough president surveyed the old railroad ties and rusted steel that come to an abrupt end at a wall of green leaves at the edge of the restaurant's property. Both hope together they will have the golden touch to restore transit service to the line, which saw its last passenger trains in the 1950s.

Reactivation of the North Shore transit corridor has been a hallmark of Molinaro's tenure, and is among Bloomberg's transportation priorities during his re-election campaign.

"The bottom line is, you're not going to have a subway here, and you need mass transit," Bloomberg said.

The project, currently undergoing a two-year alternatives analysis study, will need to benefit from funding secured by Sens. Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, Bloomberg said. Both senators have been strong supporters of the project.

The existing infrastructure along Richmond Terrace will spur the growth of new businesses when riders return to the line, Molinaro said.

As for a much-desired subway tunnel to Manhattan?

"I don't think there's any chance in the foreseeable future," Bloomberg said. "I never understood why there wasn't one built back in the '30s."

A separate West Shore light rail project is about a decade and $1 billion behind the North Shore rail, though Bloomberg didn't discount the possibility it could be funded in the future.

"If you're going to make living on Staten Island even better, we basically solved the overdevelopment problem with rezoning, and now we're onto transportation," said Bloomberg, who recently outlined a host of other transportation-related campaign goals in addition to the North Shore rail.

Plans for a South Shore Ferry have been dampened by steep cost estimates. "They're phenomenally expensive, and while everyone likes them, it's a very seasonal business and it's just getting the money to do it," Bloomberg said.

But Molinaro stressed the importance of the city buying waterfront land where a ferry could someday be built, so as not to lose the opportunity in the future.

Bloomberg also said he supports the removal of the toll booth arms at the MTA's bridge and tunnel toll plazas, including at the Verrazano.

"That would make a lot of sense. It's one of those things that you wonder why they don't do it because it does work elsewhere," he said. The MTA is studying a video tolling system, but has said in the past that there are concerns removing the barrier arms will mean a loss of revenue.

"The argument is some people zip through, but my answer is it's very few, and there's a big benefit in terms of convenience," Bloomberg said.

When asked about the recent ticket blitz for motorists making right turns out of the bike lane at Capodanno Boulevard and Seaview Avenue, Bloomberg admitted he wasn't aware of the problem. "Why are they giving out tickets?" Bloomberg asked. "It doesn't make any sense."

Department of Transportation officials have promised to come out to take a look at the problem, Molinaro said.

Of the need for the North Shore rail, "we've convinced him now," Molinaro said after Bloomberg's visit. "He knows we need it. He knows we should have it."

"I don't see a rail running through there during my term, even if I get re-elected," Molinaro said. "But I see it's getting closer and closer."

TAIL: Maura Yates covers transportation news for the Advance. She may be reached at myates@siadvance.com.